This is a working man's 300 meter free rifle. My shooting partner has one built on a Swiss K-31 action by Hammerli. The Swiss rifles were available in 65x55, .308 Win and 7.5 Swiss.

While the workmanship is a lot nicer on the Swiss rifles, the layout is exactly the same as this Arisaka: swiss butt, palm rest, double-set triggers, thumbhole stock, micrometer sights, and a front sling swivel.

The photo here is not of my friend's rifle, but essentially the same.

That Hammerli is a gorgeous gun, and one I'd gladly own and shoot!

I have an old Stevens rifle I made into a home built "free rifle" when I was in high school. I got the Stevens bolt action .22 for fixing a guy's motorcycle, and I wanted a target rifle badly, but had no funds for one. I removed the stock and got a piece of 3/4" black pipe and turned it to the length of the barrel. I had to ream the inside on the receiver end to allow it to butt up to the action. I then made small wood wedges to hold the sleeved pipe centered at the muzzle, and poured the area between the barrel and the sleeve with Acraglass. Once it set I removed the wedges, and topped it off with more Acraglass. Then I dissected the stock and added wood to make a larger forearm, and added to the buttstock to make it into a pistol grip, and a higher cheekpiece. Added an adjustable buttplate that was used Freeland with hooked offhand and benchrest plates. Painted the stock satin black, and polished out the barrel sleeve and it blued up very nicely. Still one of the best looking parts of the gun is the 1.125" "bull barrel" that it became. Mounted an old Weaver K3-9x scope after D&T for scope bases. I worked the trigger and sear over to get a crisp release, and lighter pull. The gun looked cool when I was 16 years old, and shot very nicely. I still own it today, and I chuckle when I look at it. No doubt about it's home gunsmithed origins, and by someone with very limited talents. But I'll never sell it, as it's given me lots of enjoyment. I'll also never show it to anyone but my kids, just so they saw how desperate I was to own something neat when I was broke!

This style of rifle is not attractive to me; in fact, it borders on hideous, (to me).It was made as a tool to win matches, no matter what it looked like.If Chuck Blender ever had an attractive rifle, I've never seen it; but, he sure could shoot with the thing he brought!

Good perspective! as Moody Holler has said: you can either look good or shoot good ....

Someone really did a lot of work on that rifle. Did what they wanted to get what they either needed or wanted. For a good heavy cast bullet in that .312 bore try Lyman's 314299 which was originally designed for the 303 British. I shoot that same bullet sized to .3135 in a Finnish Model 27 Moisin Nagant with a .3115 bore and it does shoot. I use Javelina lube and IMR 4759 both of which are no longer made. But you should be able to find a powder/lube combination that will work for you. Have fun as that is what it is all about. Frank

I do agree with some folks who have pointed out the harsh comments. It's a little mean to put down a guy's gun when he posts pictures here to show us what he found, and seems happy with it. May not be our cup of tea, but better to not say anything, than make mean comments.

all of us have developed tastes and preferences in action types, caliber's, stock design, optics, fit and finish.

I suspect that the OP who has been around this old racetrack more than a time or two himself knew that his photos and specs would get exactly the reactions they did---and got a kick out of them.

Can't say as I agree totally. References to "Harlow" are not made because someone likes a different style gun, or prefers traditional single shots vs. bolt actions. The OP may be taking it well, but I still see no reason to dish it out.

I do agree with some folks who have pointed out the harsh comments. It's a little mean to put down a guy's gun when he posts pictures here to show us what he found, and seems happy with it. May not be our cup of tea, but better to not say anything, than make mean comments.

Hello marlinguy,

Thanks for the reply.

Well, I do think some of the comments are very mean-spirited!

Not everyone can afford an expensive competition rifle or the components to build one. This is an example of what a creative man built for himself, with what he had available to him.

I put my 20x Programmer on top, and took it for a test run. The trigger is awesome. I'm pleased.

Somebody put his heart&soul, and a lot of time, into that build, and what he could afford in cash money. It was the only way he could have had such a rifle to shoot. I've been there myself, over and over.

There but for the grace of our Gun Funds go most of the rest of us. The guys who "are building" a new rifle by sending directions and funds to a professional gunsmith might try it themselves for a change. The difference between the ability to appreciate that jenesaisquoi by fondling somebody else's fine workmanship and the ability to achieve it yourself are humbling, to say the least.